Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Rough Day

Not in terms of training, just in terms of life.  It seems the past few days have really sucked, and things just don't seem to be turning around.  Before my run, I got in two tax bills that are kind of messing with my budget and have me pretty damn stressed.  So, needless to say, I needed to run (both to stick to my plan but also for stress relief); however, I had little to no desire to run.
But I did.  I got my three miles in, 10:02 pace, felt easy--though it is pretty damn hot out. I forgot to check the temp before I went out but it is 73 now at 7pm and I went out at 6, so it was probably around 75 or so.  Sunny and nice out. Wore two pairs of socks today, per suggestion of the podiatrist I went to.  Haven't taken my sneakers off yet, so no clue how well it worked.  My feet are burning, so I am guessing there are blisters. 
Oh well.  I think 116 days till race day.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

First Long Run

So today was the first long slow run of my training.  It was a six mile run, which is about one mile more than I have run in three months (and I've only run 5 miles once or so in the last three months...).  Needless to say, I was feeling a bit nervous about the run.  My stomach was actually a little bit nervy before I went out.  It was a bit odd.  I worked last night and slept from about 8-11, then ate an english muffin with pb&j, then went back to sleep from about 2:30-6.  When I woke up I had a bagel thin.  My plan was to run after the sun was starting to get lower in the sky, because I knew today would be a hot day.  So I went out at about 7 and it was somewhere around 78 degrees and sunny.  My goal was to really stick to a slow pace, as prescribed by my training program.  This has been a challenge for me in the past.  Last night I spent some  time on runnersworld.com playing around with their training calculator to determine what my lsd pace should be.  Based on a marathon time of 4:15 (9:44 min/mil), my lsd pace should be 10:52-12:13.  Today, my pace was 10:45.  While a bit faster than I would have liked, it felt very comfortable and I am proud that I was able to maintain a pace slower than what I am used to.  Typically, I start to run and I just settle into my "normal" pace, when I try to run at a set pace I have a really hard time with it.  So I'm really happy with today's run.  I felt good during the run, my feet were a bit uncomfortable but no other complaints.  Oh, I did have some issues with cramps in my chest/shoulder area, tried to breathe through and it seemed to work.  Finished the run with a  severe side stitch that almost had me doubled over, walked it out and it went away.  Walked Cooper after and drank a good amount of water.
The first week of training is behind me and I feel great.  My countdown till the race is a bit off, but I think I'm 119 days out!!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Cross Train Saturday

So yesterday was a rest day (which I totally blew up having clamcakes & chowder for lunch with copious amounts of wine at dinner--but it was a really rough day emotionally so it was kind of called for).  I did totally and completely rest yesterday aside from a bit of fishing but I would hardly call that a workout!  Today I rode with my dad for some cross training.  We did 26.29 miles at a 15.5 average pace.  I felt really good and my dad commented that my running through the winter is showing itself in my climbing ability.  I even was able to, without much effort, pass him on Nate Whipple (my arch-nemesis end-of-ride hill climb).  As far as fuel, I had pb&j on english muffin for breakfast with a chobani and then pre-ride I had a trail mix bar and a banana.  At about mile 18 I started to feel my stomach growling so I ate my sport beans and they held me over until I got home.  Drank 16 oz of water on the ride with 16 oz before.  Also had large glass of juice and about 12 oz of iced tea before ride.  After ride, I had a can of diet 7up and a large glass of skim chocolate milk.  I really enjoyed the ride today.  When we went out the temp was around 77 at 1pm, and when we got home it was 84.  Sun shined the whole ride, and we went out on a lot of roads I have never been on.  A lot of the roads intersected or ran parallel to roads I know, so it was cool to see the same areas from a different perspective.

I have my first long run tomorrow, it is 6 miles.  I am slightly nervous about it, but I know that six miles is not very long and it is well within my reach.  My goal will be to run at a slow pace and enjoy myself and try to enjoy spending the time outside doing something positive for myself.  I like to remember that all of this training and exercise is one of the many ways I take care of myself and replenish my spirit.  With wedding planning and the kind of day-to-day stresses everyone encounters, I need to remember that I am my priority right now and I need to provide for myself before anyone else.  I would like to put a little focus onto the idea that "you can only control how you react to situations, you cannot control the situations you encounter."  Hopefully the time I spend working out and working on myself this weekend will help give me some perspective to the crap I dealt with on Friday and I will end the weekend with a clearer head than I went into it with.
I am valuable and I value myself, it is my priority to care for myself and to treat myself the way I deserve to be treated.  I love my life, and I am grateful I have discovered the tools I have to deal with stress.  I am a lucky girl! :)
121

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Thursday

So today was another three mile run, I ran it a bit faster than the other two runs this week, at a 9:35 pace (my pace was much more consistent--I think both things can be contributed to a slightly flatter course).  today I ran out to Pawtuxet.  I went out at 8am and it was sunny and 60 when I went out, sunny and 67 at the end.  No food before, walked cooper to cool down after.  I drank 24 oz after the run and ate a yogurt and planters trail mix bar.  Then I went to the beach and drank another 24 oz of water.  Felt good on the run, my feet hurt from the blisters a bit, but I made an appt to see a podiatrist next tuesday so that should be good.
123

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

2/125

So today was my second day of running.  Again, I ran three miles.  This time I ran at City Park for a change of scenery.  Today is sunny and 72 degrees, I worked last night and slept four hours today.  I had a bagel thin with light cream cheese and a greek yogurt with a glass of juice prior to my run.  After I had about 20 oz of smart water.  Average run pace 9:41.  My pace on hills slows considerably (from an average around 6.2 down to around 5.4), I would like to improve on that.  I felt good during the run, relaxed, breathing felt easy.  Palpitations during the first mile that were asymptomatic otherwise.  After the run, I walked another lap of the park (~2.4 miles) incorporating walking lunges up the hills during the first mile, side walking squats, and stationary squats.  Felt good to be outside, lots of salt left over after the run though so will have to be careful to replace that.  As far as my fears/excitement--don't feel any twinges anywhere and stretched thoroughly after run, was motivated to run today and had no trouble getting out the door.  Looking forward to tomorrow's run, excited to know Friday is a rest day and Saturday I will most likely be cycling.  Happy to have had another good training day!
124 days till the race
(Oh and Nick surprised me this morning and registered me for the race, so I am officially entered to run!)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

First Run

Today was the first run of my marathon training.  It was a 3 mile run, and my goal was to attempt to control my pace.  I held a 9:41 pace which is slightly faster than I would like these easy runs to be.  My marathon goal pace is 9:30; I would like to see my tuesday/thursday runs done at 9:45.  I would also like to improve the consistency at which I hold the pace.  Looking at my garmin data, my pace varies constantly throughout the run; by the end of this training, I would like to have better control of that.  As far as conditions today; cloudy and 60 degrees.  I felt good during the run, never felt over exerted.  I worked 12 hrs last night and slept 5 hours today.  Pancakes for breakfast pre-run; sips of water pre-run; 24 oz water post-run.  Yesterday at the gym I had a near syncopal episode and today felt none of those symptoms.  I have been recovering from a cold.  After my run, I walked with Cooper for about 1/2 mile and stretched focusing on my quads, hamstrings, and IT bands.  I am excited about this training program.  My biggest fear right now is injury and/or feeling overwhelmed and self-sabotaging.  I plan to overcome these fears by developing a better strength/stretching regimen and icing at the first twinge of pain.  I plan to overcome my fear of being overwhelmed by using copious amounts of positive self-talk.  I am most excited about tackling my goal of running a marathon and getting into a groove with my training where I look forward to my runs and can focus more on how I feel after I run as opposed to how hard it can be to get myself going!
125 days...